Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame
When the season started for the 2007 baseball team, expectations were high. The year before had seen the biggest turn-around in the history of Division III baseball, when the 2006 team won 28 games after only winning 11 the season before. But although the expectations were high, this team achieved more than anyone thought they could. The 36 wins in a season is still a record at Rhodes. The team started off strong as the Lynx were 22-2 at one point after a 16-game winning streak. After winning eight of the next 10 and bolstering their record to 30-4, the Lynx were ranked #25 nationally for the first time in 30 years. This team finished the year 36-10 and won the SCAC Eastern Division Championship. During the season the Lynx defeated the #3, #11, and #15 teams in the nation. When the season was over, they had the ninth-best record in Division III. The championship model has changed and in the current model, this team would have had the opportunity to compete for a national championship.
Great teams often have a specific identity that defines them, but this group had it all: great pitching, great hitting, solid defense, and a tremendous team culture. The top four hitters in the line-up hit .399 or better and the starting rotation ended the year 27-7. The 2007 team included two All-Americans in Daniel Vanaman and Robert Flanagan. Vanaman paced the offense with a .422 average and 62 RBIs, while Flanagan was 12-1 with a 2.49 ERA. Mason Mosby and Daniel Vanaman led the team with 73 hits, which is still a record at Rhodes. Vanaman’s 62 RBIs and Mosby’s 62 runs scored still stand atop the record boards. Team offensive records that were set that year and still remain were runs scored (407), hits (516), RBIs (365), and on base percentage (.444). As for pitching, the 12 wins by Flanagan is still a record and the eight saves by Charles Simmons stands at second all-time for a single season.
The 2007 roster, led by head coach Jeff Cleanthes and assistant coaches Rob Schrier and Steve Wright, included: Matt Beesley, Chris Catalanotto, Robert Flanagan, Daniel Vanaman, Richard Hurd, Matt Jack, Jeff Mueller, David Welch, J.R. Bizzell, Drew Hubbard, Andy Holt, Evan Malone, Robby Piper, Patrick Tolivar, Derek King, Max Gertz, Will Leibner, Charles Simmons, Brad Atkins, Brandon Valentine, Steven DelBello, Andy Boucher, Brett Miller, Daniel Killary, Mason Mosby, Gordon Chadwick, Kevin McAlpine, Ralph MacDonald, Brooks Royer, Carter Ragan, Zach Sherman, Alex Schwent, and Cory Dardenne.
The members of the 2007 Baseball Team set a standard of excellence and established Rhodes Baseball as a national contender for years to come. In recognition of their outstanding season, Rhodes is honored to induct the 2007 Baseball Team into the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame this 30th day of September, 2023.
